Federal Highway Administration March 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 5207 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Surface Transportation Environment and Planning Cooperative Research Program (STEP). The general objective of the STEP is to improve understanding of the complex relationship between surface transportation, planning and the environment. SAFETEA-LU provides $16.875 million per year for fiscal years (FY) 2006-2009 to implement this new cooperative research program. Due to obligation limitations, rescissions, and congressional designation of Title V Research in SAFETEA-LU, it is anticipated that approximately $11.9 million of the $16.875 million authorized will be available each fiscal year. The purpose of this notice is to: (1) Announce the creation of an FHWA Web site to provide information regarding the STEP; and (2) to solicit public input on the implementation strategy for this program.